"I have been wrong," he said at last; "but I can die to expiate it. I can go to my lord——"
She caught his meaning and thrilled to it. She had done something at last; the Earl, laughing now with Miss Trefusis, would know that she was not so insignificant, and—but a cloud, a sudden darkness seemed to overspread her brain, her surroundings assumed a ghostly unreality, she found herself wondering what had happened, why she was here; who this was standing motionless beside her.
"Marius!" she shrieked. "I am going mad!"
He turned fiercely and caught her by the arm.
"I will take you away," he said desperately. "I will take you away, Lavinia."
She fell to laughing.
"Why do you touch me? Do you not hate me? Will you meet your brother, because of me—me?"
Then she seemed to collect herself. She clung to his coat, his heavy lace cravat, and let the weight of her slight figure fall across his arm.
"You are not going to turn me away, Marius?" she asked in a quick breathless voice, and her powdered hair brushed his cheek.
"No," he answered wildly. "On my honour, no."